Canada’s Zach Fucale leads way in 3-2 win over U.S. at world juniors

Team Canada goaltender Zach Fucale smiles as he skates off the ice after defeating the USA 3-2 at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday December 31, 2013. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Frank Gunn)
/ Postmedia News

Canada’s goaltender Zach Fucale makes a breakaway stop on the United States’ Connor Carrickduring third-period action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Connor McDavid (17) celebrates his go-ahead goal against the USA with teammates (from left) Matt Dumba, Josh Morrissey and Bo Horvat during third period action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, December 31, 2013.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

A winning Canadian team is also a big winner for broadcaster TSN at the world junior hockey championship.Frank Gunn/CP
/ Canada.com

Connor McDavid celebrates his go-ahead goal against the United States during third-period action in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Fans hold up Canadian flags during the Canada-U.S. game in round-robin action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Connor McDavid (left) and Sam Reinhart move in for a scoring chance on United States goaltender Jon Gillies in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Nic Petan celebrates his goal during second-period action against the United States in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Frederik Gauthier lands on top of U.S. defenceman Brady Skjei as goaltender Jon Gillies looks for the puck during action in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canadian fans cheer on their team during second-period action of their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canadian fans cheer during the Canada-U.S. game in round-robin action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

United States goaltender Jon Gillies eyes the puck as Canada’s Bo Horvat moves in on net in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s goaltender Zach Fucale reaches for the puck as the U.S.’s Stefan Matteau tries for the tip during second-period action of their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Connor McDavid celebrates his go-ahead goal against the United States in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Fans hold up a Canadian flag during the Canada-U.S. game in round-robin action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Nic Petan scores past U.S. goaltender Jon Gillies during second-period action of their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s goaltender Zach Fucale makes a stop on the U.S.’s Adam Erne during first-period action of their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

The United States’ Riley Barber celebrates his goal as Canada’s Bo Horvat skates past in their round-robin game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Canada won 3-2.Frank Gunn
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

MALMO, Sweden — Captain Scott Laughton calls him one of the loudest guys in the dressing room.

Regardless of how boisterous Canadian goalie Zach Fucale is, it pales in comparison to the volume of most of the 3,882 fans in attendance at Malmo Isstadion who were chanting his name following Tuesday’s game.

Fucale made 24 saves, backstopping Canada to a 3-2 victory over the United States in its final preliminary contest at the world junior hockey championship.

The win secured top spot in Group A for the Canadians, meaning they now have a date with Switzerland in the quarter-final rather than Russia.

“You stand at the blue line at the end of the game and the fans chanting ‘Fucale.’ It was pretty special,” said Canadian winger Connor McDavid. “I mean I had chills and it wasn’t even for me.”

Fucale backed up Jake Paterson for both of Canada’s first two tournament games.

Undeterred, he would eventually get his chance against Slovakia, making 19 saves in a 5-3 win on Monday.

“He’s a confident guy and a loud guy,” Laughton said. “I’ve never seen a goalie so loud in the room. He’s been really good for us, staying positive when he wasn’t playing.”

The Montreal Canadiens’ 2013 second-rounder was even better on Tuesday, especially in the first when his team was being outplayed.

He stopped underager Jack Eichel on a two-on-one, four minutes in, and then snagged a shot from Riley Barber on an American power play.

“When you get a lot of pressure like that early, you get in the game right away,” Fucale said. “I was happy to get a couple saves early to get some rhythm.”

Fucale was the reason why the opening frame ended without a goal scored as Canada was outshot 13-6.

For a team that had allowed the first goal within the first eight minutes of each of its three previous tournament games, Fucale’s performance provided much-needed confidence.

“It’s huge,” Sutter said. “In the first period he made some big saves. I think they got the first two shots on net and a couple of quality scoring chances before we got a shot on net.

“Then we got our feet moving and started making some plays.”

Although Barber managed to open the scoring on a wraparound 3:29 into the second, Fucale’s play allowed his teammates to stay in the game.

After Jonathan Drouin and Bo Horvat hit posts off rushes, Anthony Mantha set up Nic Petan to tie the game.

The assist gave Mantha a team-leading 10th point.

McDavid scored his first of the tournament and Curtis Lazar netted a power-play marker before the third was seven minutes old.

With Canada clinging to a two-goal lead, Fucale made his best stop of the night.

American Connor Carrick had breakaway midway through the frame, faked to his backhand and went to his forehand.

But Fucale stretched out his left pad and denied Carrick.

“That was disgusting,” Canadian defenceman Mathew Dumba said. “I saw the guy make that move and thought that was probably the move I would have chosen. When his pad was still there, I couldn’t believe it.”

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